Reopening the Century Aurora 16 theater, where 12 people were slain and at least 58 others were injured, is a part of the community's healing process, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan says.

But some families of victims of the July 20 massacre disagree.

In fact, they feel so strongly, they are organizing a boycott of the Jan. 17 reopening, to which they all were personally invited.

The e-mailed invitation to a "special evening of remembrance," is a thoughtless, insulting gesture, said Sandy Phillips, whose 24-year-old daughter, Jessica Ghawi, died in the shooting.

"None of us received a letter of condolence or any other communication from Cinemark, but now they want us to step foot in that theater," Phillips said in an interview Wednesday. "It's like people going back to a slaughterhouse, as far as I am concerned."

Ghawi was killed when a gunman opened fire during a sold-out midnight showing of a Batman film. The theater has been closed since the shooting.

In a letter to Plano, Texas-based Cinemark, Phillips and 14 other family members of nine victims said they are shocked by the level of insensitivity shown by an invitation for "you and a guest to a special evening of remembrance on Thursday, Jan. 17."

In December, Cinemark said it planned to reopen the theater Jan. 17 with a community event company officials said would be attended by Hogan and Gov. John Hickenlooper.

"The process of grieving and healing is long, painful and difficult," Hogan said via e-mail. "As we take steps to heal and move forward as a community, I expect people will experience a range of emotions."

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The theater reopening could be painful for some, he said, but it is also a step forward.

"That is why it is important for the victims and their families to have a choice whether or not they want to attend the reopening," he said.

Hickenlooper's office confirmed Wednesday he plans on attending the event.

The e-mail invitation was issued through the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance and noted that counselors will be available at the theater the night of the event.

COVA executive director Nancy Lewis said she was aware people were upset by the invitation but said she could not talk about it.

Calls to Cinemark were not returned.

Several lawsuits have been filed against Cinemark by the families of those killed and by others who survived the shooting, citing lax security at the theater the night James Holmes allegedly opened fire inside.

In their letter, the family members thanked Cinemark "for reminding us how your quest for profits has blinded your leadership and made you so callous as to be oblivious to our mental anguish."

In August, the city of Aurora conducted a survey that found the majority of residents wanted to see the theater reopen. Shortly thereafter, renovations began, which included converting Theater 9 — where the shooting occurred — into an XD theater with a wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor screen.

The company said victims and their families will be able to visit the theater Jan. 15-16, prior to the public reopening.

Caren and Tom Teves, parents of Alexander Teves, 24, who died in the shooting, also signed the letter to Cinemark.

If the company truly wanted to show a gesture of compassion, Caren Teves said, it would arrange for a percentage of profits to go to victims and their families.

"I don't care what they do with that theater, it doesn't impact us at all," Caren Teves said.
"This is not a celebration. We've lost everything."

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